Self-help bath seat

ABSTRACT

A seat for a bath tub to ease the user into the tub and to provide a natural lift when getting out resulting from buoyancy. An initially flat device which, when inflated, provides a seat portion and three upright sides and includes four suction cups for adherence of the seat to the tub when desired, and optional tie means to fasten the device about the buttocks, leaving the hands free.

United States Patent [191 Emery, deceased et al.

[ Sept. 17, 1974 SELF-HELP BATH SEAT [76] Inventors: William M. Emery, deceased, late of New Providence, N.J.; by William W. Emery, administrator, Berkeley Heights, N17

[22] Filed: June 30, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 51,039

[52] US. Cl. 4/185 S [51] Int. Cl A47k 3/12 [58] Field of Search 4/113, 185; 5/348; 297/456 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,582,439 1/1952 Kavanagh 155/179 2,713,174 7/1955 Merlin et al 4/185 3,050,748 8/1962 Deutinger 5/338 3,220,769 1 H1965 Regan 297/384 3,235,892 2/1 66 Emery 9/312 3,265,438 8/1966 Regan et a1 297/380 3,276,047 10/ 1 966 Emery 3,408,107 10/1968 Savage v D189,072 10/1960 Baisch D7l/l Primary Examiner-Samuel B. Rothbcrg Assistant ExaminerDona1d B. Massenberg Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Gardiner, Sixbey, Bradford & Carlson [57] ABSTRACT A seat for a bath tub to ease the user into the tub and to provide a natural lift when getting out resulting from buoyancy. An initially flat device which, when inflated, provides a seat portion and three upright sides and includes four suction cups for adherence of the seat to the tub when desired, and optional tie means to fasten the device about the buttocks, leaving the hands free.

1 Claim, 4 Drawing Figures SELF-HELP BATH SEAT BACKGROUND OF INVENTION There are many elderly or crippled persons who have difficulty in getting into and out of bath tubs alone or even with the aid of others and soaking therein gives them a relaxation and solace physically and mentally important. Accordingly hand grips and rails, non-skid devices and wooden and metal seats suspended from or supported b y t he tub are quite common.

not lower the user into the bath water anymore than the seats previously mentioned.

The applicant is not acquainted with any inflatable bath seats possessing sufficient lift to be effective or other inflatables sufficiently adapted to the purpose as to be practical.

The above mentioned problems are solved very simply by the present invention comprising a soft resilient, inflatable seat adjustable as to a total buoyancy or lift substantially up to 64 pounds by means of approximately a cubic foot displacement of water to at least partially counter-balance the weight of the unimmersed portion of the body. This provides ease of seating du not only to the adjustable buoyancy available but also to air compression and elasticity within the device, especially when the seat is positioned by a belt relative to the buttocks, leaving both hands free to grasp rails, etc.

It is also provides the same lift, freedom and safety when getting out of the tub. Sixty pounds of lift is probably more than the average helper would provide because the helper is of necessity working from one side.

Due to unique construction this invention also provides that although uninflated it is substantially flat, when inflated three continuous vertical inflated sides are erected normal to the seat portion for extra buoyancy, stability and more secure positioning.

The resultant cushioning qualities of the self-help tub seat is such that it is believed that if a helpless user should suddenly sit down even in an empty tub they would do so without harm.

Also provided on the cushion seat portion are four suction cups uniquely attached to anchor the seat position to the tub optionally before the tub is filled or if desired by the user just temporarily to allow him to turn to wash his posterior without fighting the buoyancy of the tub seat. The suction cups may be released again when the user wishes, the buoyancy to assist his elevation.

The soft non-rigid characteristics of the Self-Help Bath Seat with its adjustable and elastic resiliency allows the user to stretch out fully relaxed with his body more completely covered by the water in contradistinction to the presently available devices discussed.

No strain is placed on the inflatable seat by the tie means because it can be of one piece which is allowed to pass through the arms of the seat and completely under and around the seat portion and secured in front. It may be removed from the seat if so desired.

It is an object of this invention to provide a bath seat which overcomes the problem outlined above.

It is another object of the invention to provide an inflatable bath seat which assists the user in arising from the bath tub.

These and other objects of the invention will become more readily apparent from the following description and drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the tub seat in use,

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the tub seat in inflated condition,

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the tube seat in inflated condition.

As shown in the drawings, the Self-help Bath Seat 10 may be divided into a seat portion 12, a back portion 14, and two side wings l6 and 18.

The seat portion 12 is formed of two substantially rectangular sheets 20 bonded together at their peripheries by heat sealing or other suitable means. The seat portion 12 is provided with an opening 22.

Spaced slightly inwardly of the peripheral seal is a further heat seal 24 extending completely around the sheets 20 and sealing them together to form an inflatable portion. The heat seal 24 rounds the corners of the sheets 20 thus forming uninflatable tabs 26 at each corner of the seat portion. A suction cup 28 is secured to the bottom surface of each tab 26.

The sheets 20 are also heat sealed together at 30 and 32 to form together with the opening 22, a plurality of cylindrical bulges 34, 36, 38 and 40.

The seat portion 12 is provided with valve means 42 through which it may be inflated.

The back portion 14 and side wings l6 and 18 are also formed of two sheets hermetically joined together to form a single inflatable chamber. Heat seals 44 and 46 separate the side wings l6 and 18 from the back portion 14 and serve as hinge means to permit bending of the side wings 16 and 18 so they extend angularly from the back portion 14. The heat seals 44 and 46 do not extend fully across the two sheets thus leaving air passages 48 and 50 at each end thereof so that the side wings l6 and 18 are pneumatically interconnected with the back portion.

The back portion 14 and side wings 16 and 18 are each provided with flaps 52. The flaps 52 are secured to flaps 54 extending from the seat portion 12 to unite the back portion 14 and side wings l6 and 18 thereto.

Valve means 56 is provided for inflating the back portion 14 and side wings l6 and 18. The side wings 16 and 18 may be provided with openings 58 and 60 respectively through which tie means 62 may extend for securing the tub seat on the riser.

What is claimed is:

1. In a conventional bathtub, a bouyant inflatable bathtub seat made of sealable sheet material and comprising a seat portion formed from two rectangular sheets bonded together at their peripheries, said sheets being sealed together at spaced points across their widths to form a plurality of cylindrical bulges to receive air, an elongated opening in said seat portion extending parallel to said cylindrical bulges, a back portion and two side portions each having a single inflatable chamber, valve means in one of said portions, the seat portion, back portion and side portions all being pneumatically interconnected so that all of the portions ings in said arms for the passage of tie means around are inflated when air is admitted through said valve and under said seat portion to hold said bathtub seat in means, said rectangular sheets being sealed together position relative to the buttocks of the user, and said along their edges to form a plurality of uninflatable tabs bathtub seat providing a very substantial bouyancy sufintegral with said seat portion, a plurality of suction 5 ficient to materially aid the sitting user in easing him cups mounted on said tabs, said suction cups being into and out of water such as may be contained within adapted to temporarily hold said bathtub seat at least said conventional bathtub.

partially immersed within a bathtub, tie means, open- 

1. In a conventional bathtub, a bouyant inflatable bathtub seat made of sealable sheet material and comprising a seat portion formed from two rectangular sheets bonded together at their peripheries, said sheets being sealed together at spaced points across their widths to form a plurality of cylindrical bulges to receive air, an elongated opening in said seat portion extending parallel to said cylindrical bulges, a back portion and two side portions each having a single inflatable chamber, valve means in one of said portions, the seat portion, back portion and side portions all being pneumatically interconnected so that all of the portions are inflated when air is admitted through said valve means, said rectangular sheets being sealed together along their edges to form a plurality of uninflatable tabs integral with said seat portion, a plurality of suction cups mounted on said tabs, said suction cups being adapted to temporarily hold said bathtub seat at Least partially immersed within a bathtub, tie means, openings in said arms for the passage of tie means around and under said seat portion to hold said bathtub seat in position relative to the buttocks of the user, and said bathtub seat providing a very substantial bouyancy sufficient to materially aid the sitting user in easing him into and out of water such as may be contained within said conventional bathtub. 